James Haskins (1941-2005) was a prolific author of more than
100 published books, mostly of African American nonfiction and biography for
children and adolescent readers, though he is perhaps most known for his books The Cotton Club and Mr.
Bojangles, which each served as inspiration for film adaptations. He was
also a Professor of English at the University of Florida and maintained a busy
schedule of speaking and lecturing engagements. The James S. Haskins Papers includes
both professional and personal records from throughout Haskins's career, which is
highlighted in this collection through his essays and speeches, the subject files on
Lionel Hampton, the (sometimes still unpublished) works sent to him for help with
writing and publishing, and in the treatment of Haskins by others as teacher,
mentor, entrepreneur, and friend.

Extent:

31.88 Linear feet. 53 boxes, oversized folders, and framed images.

Identification:

MSS 0327

Language(s):

English

Access:

Researchers should consult with Special Collections staff before using the collection because there are access restrictions. See the Access note for more information.

Location:

IMPORTANT: Please note that this collection is partially housed in the
Auxiliary Library Facility off campus and will require advance notice for timely
retrieval. Please contact the Special and Area Studies Collections department prior
to your visit.

Items from this collection have been digitized and are available online in the UF Digital Collections. For more information please see the note below.

James Stanley Haskins was born in Demopolis, Alabama on September 19, 1941. His
parents, Henry and Julia Brown Haskins, fostered a love of books and reading in
their children, a task made more difficult by a segregated South where African
Americans were not even allowed in the local public library. Haskins left the area
for high school, attending the prestigious Boston Latin School, but returned to
Alabama after graduation to attend Alabama State College in Montgomery (now Alabama
State University).

During this time, Haskins became involved in the Civil Rights Movement and
anti-segregation protests, for which he was expelled from the conservative college.
He then enrolled at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. where he earned a
Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology in 1960. He returned to Alabama State,
which had become more open to the Movement, to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree in
History in 1962. This was followed by the completion of a Master's degree in Social
Psychology in 1963 from the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque).

Haskins moved to New York City after graduating and worked at a variety of
institutions trying to find his place (the New York
Recorder, the Department of Welfare, New York Daily
News, and a Wall Street brokerage house), but found them each
dissatisfying. He began to teach, travelling among several schools teaching music,
and eventually got a position in Special Education at Public School 92 in Harlem. He
took notes about his thoughts and feelings, and detailing his innovative solutions
for challenging students. Those notes were later published as his first book, Diary of a Harlem School Teacher (1969). After its
success, he was asked to write books for children and, recalling his youth where he
had nothing to read but the encyclopedias his mother got from the grocery store,
Haskins chose to focus on nonfiction works that would speak to children and wrote
Resistance: Profiles in Nonviolence (1970). It was
the first of many works that would bring the stories of African American history to
light for children.

Haskins wrote many biographies for children and adolescents, including ones about
Rosa Parks, Langston Hughes, Ralph Bunche, Hank Aaron, Shirley Chisholm, Martin
Luther King, Jr., Barbara Jordan, Katherine Dunham, Winnie Mandella, Bayard Rustin,
Diana Ross, and many more. Likewise, Haskins also wrote works for adults, many of
them also biographies, including those on Scott Joplin, Lena Horne, Bricktop, Dinah
Washington, Lionel Hampton, Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback, Scatman Crothers, and
others. Additionally, he wrote nonfiction that revealed more about black culture and
experiences, as well as books on other cultures, in works focusing on black
soldiers, explorers, and inventors; African American music, dance, and theater;
hoodoo, witchcraft, and mysticism; war and protest; assorted language dictionaries
and counting books; religions of the world; and more. He even wrote on subjects as
varied as Snow Sculpture and Ice Carving, Teenage Alcoholism, people with disabilities and the
Special Olympics, and Werewolves.

Haskins continued teaching throughout his writing career. He was a visiting lecturer
at the New School for Social Research (New York City, 1970 to 1972), the State
University of New York (New Paltz, 1970 to 1972), Indiana University - Purdue
University (Indianapolis, 1973 to 1976), and Manhattanville College (Purchase, N.Y.,
1972 to 1976), as well as an associate professor at Staten Island Community College
(1970 to 1976). Haskins joined the University of Florida (UF) English Department in
1977 and taught there until his death.

Additionally, Haskins served as a consultant for the Smithsonian's travelling exhibit
The Jazz Age in Paris as well as for various other
projects. He wrote book reviews for many publications, including FlaVour magazine, the St. Pete
Times, Florida Historical Quarterly, and the
Gainesville Sun. And he served as a mentor to
students and other authors (both aspiring and established), and to business
entrepreneurs, especially those in the black community.

Haskins won numerous honors and awards for both writing and teaching, the most
notable being the Coretta Scott King Award for The Story of
Stevie Wonder (1977), multiple Carter G. Woodson Awards (1988, 1994,
1997, and 2009), and the ASCAP Deems Taylor Award for Scott
Joplin: The Man Who Made Ragtime (1979). Two of his books also served as
the basis for movie treatments: The Cotton Club and
Mr. Bojangles.

Haskins split his time between New York and Florida during his entire tenure at UF.
He was married to fellow author and museum specialist Kathleen Benson and had three
children, Michael, Elisa Beth, and Margaret Emily (known as M. E.). Haskins died in
Manhattan on July 6, 2005.

More information regarding the life and works of James Haskins is available in
"Series I. Biographical materials" of this collection. Additionally, a recording of
the UF Haskins memorial service is available in UFDC.

The James S. Haskins Papers dates from the 1920s to 2006, with bulk dates of 1961 to
2004. The papers include both professional and personal papers from throughout
Haskins's career as an author, speaker, and teacher. Though most of his book
manuscript materials are housed at Boston University (an inventory of which can be found in "Subseries IIc: Correspondence") the highlights of this
collection can be seen in Haskins's essays and speeches, the subject files on Lionel
Hampton, the (sometimes still unpublished) works sent to Haskins for help with
writing and publishing, and in the treatment of Haskins by others as teacher,
mentor, entrepreneur, and friend. Additional scope notes are available for each
series and subseries in the contents list below.

Access

Series "III. Personal papers and correspondence" is restricted until 2056 per the
donor agreement. For questions regarding access to these papers, please consult with
the Literary Collections Archivist.

Much of Haskins's book manuscript material, original correspondence, and interview
recordings are housed at Boston University's Howard Gotlieb Archival Research
Center. More information is available on their
website.

Series "I. Biographical information" dates from 1959 to 2005, with bulk
dates from 1970 to 2002. These records focus on the life and career of James
Haskins and provide an overview of everything Haskins has accomplished in
his work. The records here include interviews with Haskins (transcripts and
published articles), autobiographies and sketches written by Haskins, book
lists, curricula vitae, news clippings, and
biographies by other authors. A program from the University of Florida
memorial service in September of 2005 is filed here (a video recording of
the service is available in UFDC). Additionally, high school and college
diplomas are located here, along with information related to multiple high
school reunions. The records of this series are filed chronologically.

Series "II. Professional papers" dates from the 1920s to 2006, with bulk
dates from 1961 to 2004. These records focus on the professional career of
Haskins and are arranged into six subseries: "IIa. Writings," "IIb. Royalty
files," "IIc. Correspondence," "IId. Speeches and other engagements," "IIe.
Subject files," and "IIf. Teaching files." Notably, a large part of the
correspondence found in this series is one-sided, showing Haskins letters
and responses, but frequently not including those of the other recipient.
Additionally, the files relating to Haskins's books are lacking in
substance, but the files documenting his essays and articles are more
substantive.

IIa. Writings. 1965-2006
(bulk: 1970-2004)

Subseries "IIa. Writings" dates from 1965 to 2006, with bulk dates from
1970 to 2004. The records in this subseries stem from books, essays,
articles, and other writings of Haskins. This includes proposals and
outlines, drafts and manuscripts, related correspondence, notes, book
cover and galley proofs, research files, permissions requests and forms,
and book reviews. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by title of
the work or subject of the folder contents.

Who Are the Handicapped:
Correspondence with publisher and permissions granting
agencies. 1974-1981

16

23

"Writing Sports Biographies for Young Readers"
essay. undated

16

24

WUFT "Critic's Corner": Book review scripts and
agreement. 1977-1978

16

25

Young Reader's Companion to American
History: Articles and correspondence, includes articles
on Colin Powell, Jesse Jackson, Ralph Bunche, Shirley Chisholm, and
more. 1992-1994

16

26

The Youth Gangs of the South
Bronx: Manuscript material and
correspondence. 1973-1974

16

27

Zora Neale Hurston coloring book text. 2003 May

16

28

"Zora Neale Hurston: Queen of the Nigerati"
essay. circa 1985

IIb. Royalty files. 1969-2004

Subseries "IIb. Royalty files" dates from 1969 to 2004. This subseries
includes royalty payment reports and related correspondence with
publishers. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by title of the
book (with publisher names in parentheses) or name of the publisher (for
folders with multiple titles represented).

Box

Folder

17

1

ABC series
(Concordia). 1982-1989

17

2

Adam Clayton Powell
(Dutton/Dial). 1972-1983

17

3

Always Movin' On and Consumer Movement (Franklin
Watts). 1976-1982

17

4

Andrew Young and others (William
Morrow/Lothrop). 1979-1986

17

5

Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron
(Lothrop). 1975-1982

17

6

Bill Cosby (Walker). 1988

17

7

Black, Blue, and Gray and Power to the People (Simon &
Schuster). 1996-2004

17

8

Black Manifesto for Education
(William Morrow). 1973-1982

17

9

Bricktop and Mr. Bojangles (Welcome Rain). 2000-2002

17

10

Bricktop
(Macmillan/Atheneum). 1983-1988

17

11

Child Abuse Help Book (Harper
& Row/Addison-Wesley). 1982-1989

17

12

The Cotton Club and other
assorted royalty correspondence, calendars, and
spreadsheets. 1984-1991, 1997, 1999

17

13

The Cotton Club (Random
House/New American Library/Robson). 1977-1981, 1987-1993

17

14

Count Your Way series and Space Challenger
(Lerner/Harcourt/Carolrhoda). 1985-2003

17

15

The Creoles of Color of New
Orleans (Crowell). 1975-1985

17

16

Deep Like the Rivers
(Holt). 1973-1989

17

17

Diary of a Harlem Schoolteacher,
includes correspondence (Grove). 1969-1981, 1986-1987

17

18

Disney/Hyperion (Bayard Rustin,
Freedom Rides, and
more). 1997-2004

17

19

Distinguished African American
Political and Governmental Leaders
(Oryx/Greenwald). 1997-2003

17

20

Doctor J
(Doubleday). 1975-1981

17

21

Donna Summer (Little,
Brown). 1983-1991

17

22

Doubleday/Dell (Witchcraft, Mysticism,
and Magic in the Black World; Jokes
from Black Folks; and more) includes reprint agreement
and correspondence. 1974-1983

17

23

Doubleday (Resistance, Profiles in Black Power, The War and the Protest, and Witchcraft ...) includes
contract. 1970-1975

Subseries "IIc. Correspondence" dates from 1970 to 2006. This subseries
includes correspondence of various sorts as well as clippings,
publishing and consulting agreements, and employment inquiries. Of note
here are a number of manuscripts from associates of Haskins, often sent
to him for advice, editing, or just to get his opinion; documents
relating to "Jim Haskins Associates," Haskins's own literary agency and
business venture; and the correspondence and inventory lists regarding
the transfer of much of Haskins's papers and manuscripts to Boston
University. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by correspondent's
name or subject of the folder contents.

Young, Nancy J., attorney; includes last will and
testament. 1972-1980

IId. Speeches and other engagements. 1968-2005
(bulk: 1974-2004)

Subseries "IId. Speeches and other engagements" dates from 1968 to 2005,
with bulk dates from 1974 to 2004). This subseries documents Haskins's
speaking career along with awards, book signings, interviews, and other
engagements. These records include correspondence, speeches and remarks
(both draft and final versions), programs and itineraries, and some
audio and video recordings. These files highlight the popularity Haskins
held as a speaker throughout his career as a writer. This subseries is
arranged chronologically.

"Blacks in the Reconstruction Period" from Lectures in Black History
series. undated

29

13

Grove Press employees organizing speech. undated

29

14

List of guest appearances from 1969 to 1978. undated

41

9

Perspectives video
recording. undated

29

15

Speech notes, Athens, Georgia. undated

IIe. Subject files. 1920s-2005 (bulk: 1961-1990)

Subseries "IIe. Subject files" dates from the 1920s to 2005, with bulk
dates from 1961 to 1990. The records here include research files
compiled on assorted people and subjects consisting of clippings,
recordings, correspondence, sheet music, and transcripts. Of particular
interest is a substantive collection of photographs and press clippings
on Lionel Hampton from the early to mid-20th century. It is unclear of
the origin of this collection of documents as it does not fit with the
general structure of other research files from Haskins. This subseries
is arranged alphabetically by name or subject.

Subseries "IIf. Teaching files" dates from 1966 to 2005, with bulk dates
from 1973 to 2004. These records cover Haskins's teaching career from
Public School 92 in Harlem to the University of Florida in Gainesville.
These files contain correspondence and memoranda, teaching certificates,
course syllabi and reading lists, lecture recordings and transcripts,
appointment notices and contracts, and annual activity reports. These
annual activities reports often contain press clippings, award and
publication announcements, flyers for programs, book reviews, and more,
highlighting the year's accomplishments. This subseries is arranged
chronologically.

Box

Folder

31

1

Teaching certificates and related correspondence. 1966-1974

31

2

New York Board of Education notice of appointment. 1968

31

3

Psychological tests and instructions, administered by Haskins. 1969

31

4

Course syllabi and reading lists from Indiana University, Staten Island Community College, Manhattanville College, and the New School for Social Research. 1969-1976, undated

Series "III. Personal papers and correspondence" dates from 1972 to 2005.
The records of this series are restricted until 2056. Included in this
series is personal and family correspondence (some professional
correspondence interfiled among the personal), investment proposals and
correspondence, condolence letters, legal documents, and papers regarding
Haskins's community assorted involvement activities. This series is arranged
alphabetically by correspondent's name or subject of the folder
contents.

Series "IV. Photographs and scrapbooks" dates from circa 1960 to 2004,
with bulk dates from 1970 to 1990. Most of this series consists of
photographs, the bulk of which are reproductions used for publication within
Haskins's books. Of particular interest here are the scrapbooks created by
Kathleen Benson that trace the life and work of Haskins (a more detailed
list of scrapbook contents is available from the curator). Volumes 1 to 6
focus on his books. These albums contain book covers, event flyers, book
reviews, clippings, letters, and press releases. Volume 7 contains articles
and book reviews by Haskins, news clippings on Haskins (biographical),
letters, event and teaching materials, and photographs. Volume 8 focuses on
The Cotton Club and Bricktop and contains news clippings, book and movie reviews,
obituaries, promotional items and memorabilia, and book covers. Photographs
of Lionel Hampton are located in the "IIe. Subject files" subseries. This
series is arranged alphabetically by subject of the photographs or the title
of a book.